A colon can introduce a single word or phrase for emphasis: “The recipe has one secret: patience.” The words before the colon must form a complete clause, so “My favourite subjects are: art and music” is wrong.
A semicolon is used before a linking adverb that joins two clauses, with a comma after it: “The roads were icy; consequently, the school closed.”
A dash can introduce an afterthought or a sudden turn in informal writing: “It was a perfect day – until the storm arrived.”
Worked example
Punctuate: “The roads were icy consequently the school closed.”
- Two main clauses are linked by the adverb consequently.
- Use a semicolon before it and a comma after it.
Answer:The roads were icy; consequently, the school closed.
Key words
- linking adverb
- a word like however or consequently that links ideas
- emphasis
- special importance
- afterthought
- an idea added at the end
Practise this
New questions every time.